Hakeem Jeffries Labels Pete Hegseth 'Dumb Effing Individual' Over DEI Book Removal

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a recent appearance on X, branding him a 'dumb effing individual' in response to Hegseth's orders to remove nearly 400 books related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from the U.S. Naval Academy. Jeffries condemned the removals, highlighting that they included significant works on slavery and the Holocaust while allowing books by Adolf Hitler to remain. Hegseth dismissed Jeffries' remarks on Fox News, stating that Democrats are struggling to regain relevance and asserting that his actions aim to strip DEI from military education, making it 'colorblind and merit-based.' He argued that the American public supports this direction, emphasizing a focus on military strength and effectiveness. The Navy has confirmed the book removals align with executive orders to eliminate DEI-related content from federal institutions. The exchange marks a notable clash between Democratic and Republican leaders over educational content and military policy.